Trunk-strap fastener



(No Model.) l

P* MUNDRY 8v H. PMTIBR.

TRUNK STRAP FASTENER.

IIn

UNrrEE NSTAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.-

PETER MUNDRY AND HENRY POMTIER, OE DELTA, COLORADO.

TRUNK-STRAP yl-'AsreNeRL SPECIFICATION forming' part of LettersPatent No. j519,505, dated May 8, 1894. v Application tiled May 22,1893. Serial No. 475.145 (N0 mOdel-l To all whom t may concer-1e:

Be it known that we, PETER MUNDRY and HENRY PoM'rIER, citizens of the United States, residing at Delta, in the county of Deltaand State of Colorado, have invented a newand useful Trunk-Strap Fastener, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to trunk-strap fasteners, and has for its object to provide simple and convenient means for securing the ends of a trunk-strap and producing a tension thereon with a very little amount of labor, and wherein the parts are simple and effective in their construction and operation, strong and durable, easily and readily applied, and comparatively inexpensive in manufacture.

With these land other objects in View the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of theparts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trunk showing the improved trunkstrap fastener applied thereto.l Fig,2 is a section on the line @rz-, Eig. 1, on an enlarged scale. the parts of the fastener disconnected.

Similar numerals of reference indicate c'orresponding parts in the several gures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an ordinary form of trunk-strap, which may be employed singly or in series of two or more, and to one end of the same is movably connected an elongated link 2, having cross-bars 3 to receive the end of the strap at the rear end of thesame, and the front ends of the said link are converged toward each other and bent inwardly to formtrunnions 4, which engage openings in ears 5, integrally'formed with a locking lever 6, having 'an elongated handle Z and an engaging end 8 which is raised above the level of the said handle. The cross bars 3 are three innumber; the intermediate oneisy above the-plane of the other two; and the strap is passed under the outer bar, through the opening between the outer and the intermediate bars, and over the intermediate bar and through the other 'opening or space; and the end of the strap is returned f beneath the body p0rtion thereof. The tension on the link causes Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view ofv the outer b'ar to bind against the strap, which is thereby firmly secured to the link at any desired adjustment. The terminating end of the said engaging-end 8 is formed with a groove 9, to provide oppositely-situated bearingshoulders lO, and in rear of the said grooved end, on the upper side,a recess 1l is provided which has a front terminating crossridge l2. To the opposite end of the strap 1s secured another link '13, having a bar inte/ grally formed therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom with a series of curved recesses rconstructed in the upper edge of the same, as at 14, which are arranged in succession to provide a ratchet-bar, the said recesses lforming teeth, and owing to their curvature making it easy to engage the same. The under side of the said ratchet-bar, near the forward end thereof, has integrally formed therewith a pair of ears or lugs 15, with under aligned liatsurfaces to provide a stable baserest for the said ratchet-bar on vthe top or portion of the trunk'to which the strap may be applied. y

In operation, after the strap has been properly placed around the truuk the locking lever is thrown back until the engaging-end thereof is placed inV connection with either one of the teeth on the upper part of the ratchet-bar, and then drawn forward and pressed down fiat, which will exert a tension on r*the strap and lock the two ends thereof against accidental disengagement. Of course theamount of tension exerted on the strap will depend vlargely on the point of engagement of the locking lever with the ratchet-bar, andv the strength ofthe person usingthedevice; but vin each instance the curved recesses forming the teeth of the ratchet-bar will facilitate the operation of the locking lever and theV formation of the groove y9 and the opposite shoulders 10 insures a thorough engagement of the end of the lever with the ratchet-bar and prevents the sanne from .slipping laterally in either direction,w'hi1e the recessin; the upper part of the engaging end ofthe locking lever j permits the edge of the tooth with which engagement is made to extend into said recess and ,allowthe said engaging-end to at once be seated at the base of `the tooth and thereby obtain a proper fulcrum for the application f of the necessary. leverage. To insure against the locking lever becoming loose, the part of the strap over which it extends when in locked position is supplied with a short cross-strap 16, having a buckle and apertured end and embraces the end of the lever, as shown in Fig. l, to hold the same in locked position and prevent it becoming disengaged by contact with surrounding objects or by other means.

The device may be made of suit-able material, preferably metal, and of any desirable size; and it is obviously apparent that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is- 1. In a trunk strap fastener, the combination with a strap, of a ratchet bar permanently attached to one end of the strap, a link provided with "a series of cross-bars forming strap openings, one of the cross-bars being arranged in a plane higher than the end one, whereby the other end of the strap is adapted to be passed over the higher bar and backward between the strap and the under side of the end bar to clamp the strap adj ustably, and a locking lever pivotally secured to the link and engaging the ratchet bar, substantially as described.

2. In a trunk strap fastener, the combination With a strap,ot a ratchet bar attached to one end of the strap, a link connected with the other end of the strap, and a locking lever pivotally connected with the link and adapted to engage the ratchet bar and provided at its engaging end with a groove 9 forming oppositely situated shoulders lO and having a recess 11 forming side flanges to hold the lever against lateral movement, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as l our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

PETER MUNDRY. HENRY POMTIER. Witnesses:

GEO. HOMAN, JOHN M. TREW. 

